The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-08-04
SPEAKER CARLISLE AND DEMOCRACY.
The New York Herald of Sunday

The New York Herald of Sunday has
over a column long interview with Speak
er Carlisle. He thinks Cleveland and
Blaine will be the two presidential nomi-
nees for 1888, and that Cleveland will
prove much stronger, Blaine much weak
er, than in 1884. He states that there will
be made an earnest effort at the next ses-
sion of congress to harmonic the demo-
cratic factions on the revenue question,
and to so effect a compromise that the
treasury surplus will be cut down and
the peoples tax burden lessensd. Unless
this be done, he thinks the tariff question
will be the most prominent issue in the
presidential campaign. He strongly en-
dorsed the Ohio democratic platform, as
it Indicates return to the true principles
and policies of the party, and if our
friends everywhere will initiate the spirit
which appears to have animated their
state convention, there will soon be per-
feet harmony in the party on the subject
of taxation" Mr.. Carlisle's views
on the labor organizations are
sound and convincing. He puts the case
concisely, and is quoted fully:
"What Yves originally intended as labor
movement, seems to have been converted
into mere political movement, and is
now being directed by ambitious poiti-
clans, instead of practical workingmen.
Labor organizations formed for mutual
improvement and protection, for the pro-
motion of social intercourse and the
material and moral advancement of their
members, are not only unobjectionable,
but meritorious, land should be encouraged.
Laborers have perfect right to organize
for the purpose of controlling their own
business; but, when they organize to con-
troll the business of other people, it is
quite different thing. When you speak
of the labor movement in connection with
elections, suppose you mean the existing
political labor movement, which l regard
as very different thing from the organi-
cations which preceded it. Labor organi
cations, in the real and proper sense of
the term, will continue to exist as long as
mankind is doomed to toll, but these
political associations will crumble to
pieces, like all their predecessors. They
will never, in my opinion, be sufficiently
strong and compact to control any state
or national election in this country. In
most local elections they may, for awhile,
either elect their own candidates or deter
mine the contest between the candidates
of the other parties, but beyond this they
will accomplish nothing. Some of the
proposed by this new party are
also advocated by both the old ones,
while others are opposed by both the old
ones and by an overwhelming majority of
the people. AS to certain measures,
therefore, the party is entirely useless,
and as to all the others it is utterly pow
erless."
Plainly Mr.. Carlisle does not think the
labor parties will cut the swath in poll
tics their designing leaders would per-
5uade them they will, nor does he an
ticipate any serious interference with
democratic success from that source.
The whole interview has about it
The ring of democratic victory in 1888,
though Mr.. Carlisle gave warning that,
to gain the victory, the party must not
only have leader like Cleveland, but |
must put forth strong and unques- |
toned democratic platform, every plank |
of which shall be a sound democratic |
principle.